Public Safety

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month — a reminder that even a quick glance at your phone can have life-changing consequences. 📵 Watch this short video to learn just how dangerous and costly distracted driving can be: https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving

Distracted Driving: Takes your eyes off of the road, your hands off of the wheel and your mind off of driving #distracteddrivingawarenessmonth

✨ Tell Me Something Good Friday! ✨ Business owners, ever feel at ease knowing your business is being watched over, even when you’re closed? That peace of mind is exactly what you get when you see one of our officers' check-in tickets on your front door. 🚓💼 It's our way of ensuring that while you're resting, your investment is being protected. Our officers are routinely checking on businesses to help keep your property safe and sound while you sleep. 🛡️💤 Thank you for trusting us to help keep our community secure. #TellMeSomethingGood

April's Fire Safety Tip: Install Smoke Alarms *Smoke alarms can alert you to a fire in your home in time for you to escape, even if you are sleeping. *Install alarms on every level of your home, outside each sleeping area and in each sleeping area. *Bainbridge Public Safety also recommends sleeping with your door closed. *Test each alarm every month, following the manufacturer’s directions, and replace batteries once a year, or whenever an alarm “chirps” to signal a low battery. *Newer units with the 10-year long-life batteries, should also be tested monthly. *Never “borrow” a smoke alarm battery for another use — a disabled alarm can’t save your life. Replace alarms that are more than ten years old.

✨Spotlight on Service! 👮‍♂️✨ Yesterday afternoon, Police Chief Redell Walton took time out of his day to visit the Level Up Tennis afterschool program. He spent valuable time with the kids, talking about safety, answering their questions, and building trust within the community. His dedication to fostering positive relationships and supporting our youth is truly appreciated! #CommunityFirst #BuildingTrust

Congratulations to Chief Investigator Mark Esquivel for being named the 2024 Police Officer of the Year! This prestigious award, sponsored by Taurus, is a testament to Mark’s dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment to our community. We are incredibly proud to have him on our team. Thank you, Mark, for your service, loyalty, and the positive impact you make every day.

DOWNTOWN AND PARK PATROL ZONE The City of Bainbridge has implemented a new Downtown and Park Patrol Zone for Bainbridge Public Safety to patrol. The new zone enhances public safety by providing dedicated coverage to the heart of Bainbridge. This zone ensures a consistent presence of public safety officers, deterring crime, and fostering a safer, more welcoming environment for businesses, residents and visitors. The zone covers the area highlighted in green on the map which covers the area from N Scott Street to downtown, Chason Park + Riverwalk and the recreation fields. Zone: *Community oriented policing *Building stronger relationships with business owners and the residents in the downtown area *Routine vehicle patrol *Walk & Talk (foot patrol) *Side by Side Patrol *E-Bike Patrol

At least week's City Council meeting, Janette Mowry was recognized as Employee of the Quarter. Janette has been an employee of the City of Bainbridge since 2013 and works in our Public Safety Division as an Administrative Assistant. She was nominated by, not one, but two of her coworkers for her commitment to the division and specifically for leading the department to their recent perfect audit by GCIC. Join us in expressing a big thank you to Janette for her service to our community and her coworkers!

🚨 Curfew in Effect for Your Safety 🚨 As temperatures drop below freezing tonight, melting snow WILL refreeze on our roadways, creating dangerous ice patches. Streets with standing water from melting snow will lead to unexpected hazards. For your safety and the safety of our responding officers, please stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe. ❄️ #CurfewInEffect #WinterSafety #StayOffTheRoads

During last night's historic snowfall, BPS officers responded to several calls involving vehicles that had left the roadways, including a semi. While the snow has stopped, roads continue to be dangerous due to snow and icy conditions. We ask that you do not drive on them unless it is an emergency until midday at the earliest.

For those celebrating the coming of a new year with fireworks, here a few safety tips: *Don't allow young children to handle fireworks. *Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol. *Never light them indoors. *Maintain a safe distance after lighting fireworks. *Keep a bucket of water and a fire extinguisher nearby in the case of a fire or a firework does not go off.

At tonight's City Council meeting, Dwight Tomlin was introduced as the new BPS Chaplain. Dwight is no stranger to Bainbridge and we look forward to his contribution to our BPS staff and our citizens. Welcome home Dwight!

Bainbridge Public Safety sent officers to Alma, Georgia yesterday to assist in hurricane recovery efforts there. Chief Investigator Mark Esquivel, Investigator Josh Glover, Investigator Gaston Corson and PSO 3/ K9 Officer Chris Moore spent the day assisting local residents with tree and limb removal, clearing roadways and providing much needed aid. Often, in times of natural disasters such as Hurricane Helene, our officers extend support to those in need beyond our area.

On Friday, September 6th, after school released, a verbal threat was made against Bainbridge High School. Decatur County School Police investigated throughout the weekend and arrested a juvenile who was taken into custody PRIOR to school on Monday, September 9th. Despite rumors, there were no firearms found at Bainbridge High School or any schools associated with this threat. On Thursday, September 12th, threats were made on social media in reference to Homecoming events being held on Saturday, September 14th in Bainbridge, Georgia. A juvenile has been arrested and is in custody. On Thursday, September 12th, a separate threat was made against Bainbridge Middle School. A different juvenile has been arrested for this incident and is also in custody. Decatur County School Police, Bainbridge Public Safety, Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Department of Juvenile Justice along with many other local and state agencies have assisted in making these arrest. Investigations continue on previous threats made to Decatur County Schools on Monday, September 9th and Spring Creek Charter Academy on Thursday, September 12th. Our county, along with surrounding counties, have ongoing investigations to determine the source(s) of these social media posts.

ENTERING AUTO SUSPECTS ARRESTED On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, Bainbridge Public Safety was notified about numerous entering autos in the apartments located in the areas of Hubert Dollar Drive, Old Quincy Road, and Avenue A. After an investigation five juveniles have been arrested and charged with several counts of entering auto. Most of the vehicle entries were not reported, and some stolen property was recovered with no victims to return these items too. Please contact Investigator Glover to claim any missing property. If you failed to make a report, please notify officers so these cases can be documented. “People should not have to lock their vehicles to keep their property safe, but times are different now.” Investigators urge citizens to remove all firearms, keep valuables out of sight, and to lock vehicles when not in use.

Dogs have been used in law enforcement since the middle ages. A police dog, (a.k.a. K9), is a dog specifically trained to assist members of law enforcement to help protect their communities and neighborhoods. Meet K9's Kenzo and Dolph, with their handlers Officer Spence and Officer Moore, who work with officers at Bainbridge Public Safety.

Bainbridge Public Safety would like to congratulate Investigators Joshua Glover and Gaston Corson who recently completed Level 1 Active Shooter Instructor Training and Captain Ryan Wimberley and Chief Investigator Mark Esquivel who recently completed Active Attack Integrated Response Instructor Training (AAIR). Both courses are taught through the national ALERRT program The ALERRT Center at Texas State University was created in 2002 to address the need for active shooter response training for first responders. Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) was adopted by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) as the national standard for active shooter response in 2017. Corson and Glover will now be assisting Wimberley and Esquivel in teaching the Level 1 course which is designed to prepare the first responder to isolate, distract, and neutralize an active shooter. Wimberley and Esquivel will now begin implementing the Active Attack Integrated Response concept into the Level 1 courses and coordinating with other local first responders to conduct this training. AAIR is designed to improve integration between law enforcement, fire, tele-communicator, and emergency medical services (EMS) in active attack / shooter events. In addition to these courses, Captain Wimberley and Investigator Glover are also certified to teach Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events and look forward to requests from the public to present strategies and guidance in surviving active shooter events.

Due to a train accident the following roads will be closed for the next several hours. Please be careful when looking for new routes...Mlk, Sims St. Independent St and Albany Rd by Stones.

K9 DOLPH FROM THE BAINBRIDGE PUBLIC SAFETY SEEKS COMMUNITY HEROES! The Bainbridge Public Safety collaborates with non-profit 30X30 Fundraising to fund a bullet-resistant vest for K9 Dolph. Bainbridge, GA: The Bainbridge Public Safety and the Non-Profit 30x30 Fundraising are teaming up to provide a bullet-resistant vest for K9 Dolph, a vital law enforcement team member. Law enforcement departments often turn to nonprofits for K-9 equipment. 30x30 Fundraising is now raising community funds for K9 Dolph's vest, and they're reaching out to community heroes to help donate to fund the vest. The vest costs $3,653, and the matching leash is $130 for the department. The Bainbridge Public Safety using nonprofit 30x30 Fundraising to campaign for a vest will benefit donors by receiving $283 in savings. The total funds needed for K9 Dolph's vest with leash is $3,500. Nonprofits are how most departments receive K-9 Kevlar vests: K9 Dolph's daily responsibilities include pursuing the most violent offenders, taking narcotics off the streets, article searches, area searches, and building searches. The bullet-resistant vest provides K9 Dolph protection against stabbings, shrapnel, impalement, and handgun bullets. Fundraising is continuous to ensure K9 Dolph receives a vest. BPS contact info: Chief Redell Walton Bainbridge Public Safety, GA 510 E Louise Street * Bainbridge, GA 39819 redellw@bainbridgecity.com K9 Dolph's handler: PSO I Chris Moore: christopher.moore@bainbridgecity.com Phone: 229.248-2038 To Donate: https://bit.ly/DonateToK9Dolph Donating to K9 Dolph's vest is 100% fee-free! If the campaign donations continue, the surplus funds will go toward another K9 needing funding. 30X30 FUNDRAISING More about 30x30 Fundraising: Phone: 360-920-9638 Email: 30x30Fundraising@gmail.com Website: 30x30Fundraising.com IRS Approved Non-Profit 501(C)(3) Organization Facebook: 30x30Fundraising or https://www.facebook.com/30x30Fundraising/ X: 30x30Fundraise or https://twitter.com/30x30Fundraise Instagram: 30x30Fundraising or https://www.instagram.com/30x30fundraising/ YouTube: 30x30Fundraising or https://www.youtube.com/@30x30Fundraising Website: www.30x30Fundraising.com Checks can be sent here: 30x30 Fundraising 635 Clark Rd Exec Suite Bellingham, WA 98225 (Please put in notation: For K9 Dolph) EIN: 93-3828532 UBI: 605 348 230 At 30x30 Fundraising, we support K9 units with safety gear, training equipment, training courses, and nonprofits in their communities. Since 2015, when we began as "Keeping K-9s in Kevlar," we have actively listened to handlers' needs. The nonprofit501(c)(3) named 30x30 Fundraising" came about in response to the growing list of requests that "Keeping K-9s in Kevlar" alone could not fulfill. We are dedicated to fostering productive relationships within the community and with law enforcement agencies to impact all our endeavors positively.

Today, May 15, is recognized as Peace Officers Memorial Day. Let's honor and remember the courageous men and women who have sacrificed for our safety and peace. Bainbridge Public Safety was on hand this morning at the Decatur County Sheriff's Department to commemorate those who made the ultimate sacrifice.